As the Summer Health Data and Health Policy Fellows, we attended the 2024 AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting (ARM) in Baltimore, Maryland. The meeting fostered an atmosphere of collaboration, connection, and innovation for scholars across career levels, disciplines, and geographies. Throughout the four-day conference, we networked, presented research, moderated panels, and ate great local food! Here we share individual and joint reflections from our experience at ARM 2024.
Attending ARM for the first time: Reflections from Dr. Leia Belt
As a first-time attendee, AcademyHealth’s first Health Data Fellow, and a recent Ph.D. graduate with a focus in Medical Sociology and Epidemiology, I felt both eager and nervous to share my work on the legacy of "Structural Racism, Rural Demographics, and Racial Inequities in Birth Outcomes in Iowa” to an unfamiliar audience. However, as a AcademyHealth fellow this summer, I had the opportunity to see the inner workings of the conference, attend sessions outside of my research interest areas, and connect with scholars I hope to stay in touch with. As I reflect on the jampacked conference, here are a few highlights and reasons I will be back next year:
- A Warm Welcome and Shared Memories: During the opening plenary, the Co-Chairs, Dr. Yhenneko Taylor and Dr. Albert Wu, gave a warm welcome and reminisced on their own inaugural ARM experiences and the growth of the field. For me, one of the most valuable aspects of conferencing is building community with both seasoned professionals and fellow newcomers. At ARM, I witnessed this community-building in many forms—during sessions, while sharing an Uber ride, through heartfelt compliments, or in offers to share resources and skills across projects. As a testament to this warm and welcoming environment, I’ve already connected with several people on social networking platforms, exchanged planning emails, and accepted calendar invites.
- Electrifying Sessions: The conference draws attendees from various disciplines and professions, including physicians, epidemiologists, social scientists, and even congressional staffers. This diversity fosters an environment that can support and sustain innovative approaches to addressing health system challenges. There were lively discussions on intersectionality, measuring structural racism, and demystifying how Congress funds research. Sessions centering on DEIA and patient perspectives highlighted the aligned vision of Health Service Research (HSR) innovation and inclusivity. For first-time attendees, the sessions didn’t just end there—they seamlessly transitioned into evening receptions, where networking and engagement flowed as freely as the appetizers.
- Personal Stories and Inspiration: Dr. Shekinah Fashaw-Walters, the recipient of the Alice S. Hersh Emerging Leader Award, delivered a heartfelt and personal story about her first ARM. Her narrative offered a powerful reminder to “keep your head down,” do good work, and avoid comparing yourself to others—advice that resonates strongly as a recent Ph.D. graduate and interdisciplinarian.
Student Engagement at ARM: Reflections from PhD Student Kamaria
Although this was my second time attending ARM, this was my first-time attending as a graduate student. As I reflect on this year’s conference, I am energized by the conversations I had and connections I made with other students. Here are some of my biggest takeaways on student engagement from this year’s ARM:
- Increasing visibility of resources and opportunities can boost student engagement. There are several ways students can get involved with AcademyHealth and ARM, however these opportunities are not always visible to students. Many students are not aware they can join or start their own AcademyHealth Student Chapter on their campus. Targeted outreach and increased student participation and leadership in ARM planning can help make student opportunities more visible.
- Students are eager to assume more leadership roles during ARM. Inviting students to chair discussions, or even facilitate Q&A during one of the plenaries can provide a platform for student leadership. For example, as graduate students on the AcademyHealth Health Equity Interest Group Advisory Committee, Kene Orakwue and I had the opportunity to co-chair a panel about what it means to be a health equity researcher. Planning and co-chairing this session was a valuable professional development experience and provided an avenue to shape a discussion that included the trainee perspective and touched on the importance of intergenerational research and dissemination practices.
- While formal networking opportunities are important for career growth and professional acumen, informal networking is crucial if not just as important. Informal networking opportunities such as coffee chats, activities (e.g., catching a baseball game at Camden Yards), or affinity group meetups help “break the ice”, foster connection, and turn experiences into memories. For students, informal networking opportunities help cultivate a relaxed atmosphere and assuage nerves.
As health services researchers, many of us are eager to identify strategies to meaningfully address the persisting public health crises we are witnessing today which require thoughtful advocacy and willingness to tackle ongoing injustices. Students play an integral role in bringing those goals to fruition. AcademyHealth can foster students in this role by increasing opportunities for student participation and engagement in ARM planning, presentations, and session facilitation.
Shared Reflections
There was a palpable sense of excitement about the future of health services research and a recognition of the substantial work needed to address existing challenges, such as ways to equitability integrate technology into health. AcademyHealth’s commitment to mentorship and inclusion ensures that ARM newcomers and early career researchers like us are supported and encouraged as we embark on our professional journeys. By the end of the week, we were undoubtedly tired but deeply enriched by the experience. We are looking forward to future ARMs and continuing to welcome other scholars into this vibrant and dynamic community.